A sex therapist helps people with sexual problems.
Sex therapists are qualified counsellors or healthcare professionals who have done extra training in helping people with difficulties related to sex.
Why do people see sex therapists?
Many people have a problem with sex at some point in their life. Some people deal with these problems themselves, but for others, sexual problems can cause a lot of distress and unhappiness.
A sex therapist can help people with various sexual problems, including:
In men
In women
- loss of desire
- difficulty having an orgasm
- pain during sex or inability to have penetrative sex
See the Live Well sections on male sexual problems and female sexual problems for more information.
What happens in a sex therapy session?
A sex therapist will ask you questions to find out the reasons for your problem, but a therapy session will mainly involve you talking about your problem to help you get a better understanding of it. The therapist may also give you exercises and tasks to do with your partner in your own time.
Each therapy session is completely confidential. You can see a sex therapist by yourself, but if your problem affects your partner too, it may be better for you both to attend.
Sessions usually last for 50 minutes. The therapist may advise you to have weekly sessions or to see them less frequently such as every two or three weeks.
How can I find a sex therapist?
If you have a sexual problem, it’s a good idea to see your GP first as they can check for any physical causes. Your GP can refer you to a sex therapist if they think it will help you. However, sex therapy is not available on the NHS in all areas.
You can also find a sex therapist privately, which you’ll need to pay for. It’s important to see a fully qualified therapist. Look for a therapist who is a member of the British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy.
Organisations such as Relate also offer sex therapy for a fee.
Read the answers to more questions about sexual health.
Further information:
